Missouri smoking tax opponents wary of Prop B

Critics argue funds could be redirected

1:11 AM,
Oct. 14, 2012

Convenience store owners across the state are using these orange signs to voice opposition to a ballot measure increasing taxes on a pack of cigarettes from 17 to 90 cents. An industry trade group representing the stores doubts the tax money will be spent as intended.

The measure, called Proposition B, seeks to raise the state cigarette tax from 17 cents for a pack of cigarettes to 90 cents. The majority of the more than $223 million of the money is slated to to go to education funding. Twenty percent is to be set aside for smoking cessation programs.